Stacker with horizontal packer box and vertically disposed signatures



Aprll 16, 1968 H. J. LUEHRS 3,378,258

STACKER WITH HORIZONTAL PACKER Box AND VERTICALLYDISPOSED SIGNATURES Filed Feb. 2l, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet l svg-"- ffm alim.

Aprll 16, 1968 H. J. I UEHRS 3,378,258

STACKER WITH HORIZONTAL PACKER BOX AND VERTICALLY DISPOSED SIGNATURES Filed Feb. 21, 196e 5 sheets-sheet z FIGZ INVENTOR HANS J LUEHRS H15 ATTORNEY April 16, 1968 H. J. LUEHRS 3,378,258

STACKER WITH HORIZONTAL PACKEB BOX AND VERTICALJLJY DISPOSED SIGNATURES Filed Feb. 2l, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet f5 FIG y e3 m www i lNVENTOR HANS J. LuEHRs lf/S ATTORNEY H. J. LUEHRS STACKER WTH HORIZONTAL PACKER BOX AND VERTICALLY DISPOSED SIGNATURES April' 16, 1968 sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 2l, 1966 mlmllhhulml gNvENToR H ANS J LU E HRS if?, ATTORNEY April 16, 1968 H. J. LUEHRS 3,378,258

STACKER WITH HORIZONTAL PACKER BOX AND VERTICALLY DISPOSED SIGNATURES Filed Feb. 21. 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mvEN-ron HANS J LUEHRS BY www /y//S ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,378,258 STACKER WITH HORIZONTAL PACKER BOX AND VERTICALLY DISPOSED SIGNATURES Hans J. Luehrs, Westerly, RJ., assignor to The Cottrell Company, Westerly, RJ., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 528,992 9 Claims. (Cl. 271-89) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stacker for sheets or signatures comprising a horizontlally disposed movable platform, endless conveyors transporting, squeezing and controlling streams of overlapped products towards vertical disposition on said platform together with means for orbitally downwardly agitating and reciprocating the platform to advance the signatures disposed thereon to a suitable location for removal.

This invention relates to a stacker for producing a jogged pile of signatures from a stream or streams of compressed signatures from a high-speed folder of a printing press so that removal of lifts from the pile is facilitated.

In high-speed web printing operation, the web is generally folded and cut into signatures consisting of various numbers of pages. These signatures are transferred from the delivery cylinders of the folder onto traveling delivery `belts in a continuous overlapping stream to be manu- 9 ally removed therefrom in convenient lifts. They are subsequently jagged by hand and placed on skids to be transferred to the bindery. Accurate jogging of the signature is important to the bindcry operations. Poor jogging, with signatures not correctly aligned with each other-causes severe time losses in bindery.

With higher press speeds on 32 or 64-page presses with four-belt deliveries, the task to properly remove these signatures presents difficulties in respect to the physical capacity of the operators. Under continuous and sustained production, four operators and a stand-by man are required. Since their activity is naturally confined to the area adjacent to the belt deliveries, work space limitation adds to the problem of removing the signatures.

Various automatic joggers and packers have been designed to overcome the problem. In operation, these machines, consisting of several stations, including lift separa-tors, joggers, lift compressors and removal stations, become mechanically too complicated and jeopardize dependable and sustained operation of the press.

Some prior art devices, such as that in Stobbs Patent No. 3,188,082, provide a collector for signatures wherein same are stacked in an aligned relation on a iiXed tilted platform and the stack is pushed upwardly along the platform in such manner that an incoming stream of sheets or signatures is brought to the platform clear of the stack already thereon.

Other well-known devices dispose signatures on endless conveyors and transfer same to the stacker by stripping them from the the conveyor and forwarding the signatures into the packer box.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and dependable removal means for printed signatures from a high-speed printing press, which means afford a reasonably acceptable physical effort within the capacity and pace of the average operator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a stacker for sheets or signatures having means for forwarding a stream or streams of signatures from a printing press, including means compressing said streams as they are forwarded toward a horizontal stacker platform and other ice means for agitating said platform to put the signatures in proper alignment to be lifted therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide superior mechanical means to accurately align the signatures with each other, so as to minimize bindery diiculties.

Another object is to provide a packer delivery having two side-by-side streams of signatures wherein the belting used to forward the streams around the rolls is automatically adjusted to conform to the required surface speed of each stream having different thickness or dilferent numbers of pages in their signatures.

Another object of the invention is to have multiple pile packer deliveries wherein the pile removal position is at a convenient height for the operator to simply transfer convenient lifts from each pile to the skids and to perform this operation from the floor level.

Another object of the invention is to provide the stacker deliveries with safety mea-ns to automatically stop the stacker in case of jam-ups and to temporarily remove and hand-jog lifts from the delivery belts near the folder to continue operation of the press while the corrections to the stacker can be made to resume its operation without stopping the press.

Another object of the invention is to provide =a structure of the character described in which the above and other objects may be effectively attained as will appear from the specication which follows.

A practical embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents in side elevation a stacker including a packer delivery designed to accommodate two side-byside streams of signatures and constructed according to my invention;

FIG. 2 represents a section taken principally on the line II-II of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and also illustrates a tape tension device. Said view is partly in section and partly broken away, the signatures having been omitted for the purpose of more effective illustration;

FIG. 3 represents a section taken on the line IlI-III of FIG. 1 looking inthe direction of the arrows and having some parts partly broken away;

FIG. 4 represents a section taken on the line IV--IV of FIG. l looking in the direction of the arrows and parts of the structure have been `broken away;

FIG. 5 represents a view taken on the line V--V of F IG. l looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 represents a section taken on the line VI--VI of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

It will be understood that, with the exception of FIG. l, the streams of signatures are not illustrated in order that the stacker for handling same may be more clearly shown, and, in some views the tapes have been omitted, in part, to show other aspects of the invention.

Broadly, my invention comprises a stacker for signatures comprising a horizontally disposed movable packer box platform, endless conveyers for transporting, squeezing and controlling streams of overlapped signatures to a point above said platform and towards same for vertical disposition thereon, means for orbitally agitating said platform at one end thereof, swingable supports forsaid other end of said platform, and means for resiliently supporting the outer signatures vertically disposed on the platform and urging same in a direction substantially parallel to their original streams and opposed to their respective immediate streams.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, two streams of signatures are forwarded on endless carriers 14 into a position between stationary plate 1 and side plates 2 and 3. The latter are jogger plates operatively connected to the motor 4 by the crank 43 (see FIGS. 1 and 6) and reciprocated to push and properly align the traveling streams alternately against said stationary plate 1.

It will be noted that the aligned streams consist of overlapped signatures continuously forward to and between rolls `5, 6 and 7, 8 lby sets of lower and upper belts denoted by 14 and 16, said belts also Ibeing herein referred to as outer and inner belts. An adjustable belt tension device comprising spring rod 55 and pulley 59 operates on belts 14 to maintain the proper tenslon thereof. Belts 16 are tensioned by |adjustment of levers 68 carrying roller 67.

During their passage between the rolls 5, 6 and 7, 8 the signatures are subjected to a high rolling pressure which expels the air therefrom and firmly iiattens the signatures for subsequent and proper stacking as will be hereinafter described.

Roll 6 is mounted in levers 69 pivoted at 45 and so located as to be biased by the spring actuated rods 46 and levers 44 so that the roll 6 in lever arms 69 is urged toward the roll 5. Roll X8 is similarly mounted in lever arms 47 pivoted at 48, said other lever xarms 64 being biased by springs 49 acting on rods 65 so as to swing the levers 47 carrying roll 8 towards the roll 7.

Reference to FIGS. 2 and `3 will show a continuous nip across both streams, the latter being denoted by 9, 9a in each case. The continuous nips are provided by recessing belts 14 and 16 in rolls 5, 7 and 6, 8, respectively. Recessing the belts 14 and 16 as indicated provides for a continuous surface contact at the nip of the rolls which continuity could not exist in the absence of the roll recesses.

It should be understood that each stream is independently pressured in order to provide a uniform pressure across same as situations may well exist when the streams of signatures are of different thickness when comprised of minimum and maximum page signatures, and when such signatures may be delivered side by side.

The belt system composed of belts 14 and 16 is driven from the variable speed gear motor 10 by means of the chain 11 driven by sprocket 10a which chain engages and drives sprockets 31, 32, 33, G4, 35 and 36 as shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the over-riding clutches 12 and 13 Iare provided to drive the outer belts 14 to conform to the speed of the outer side of each stream passing around rolls 5 and 7 to minimize scung of the signatures while traveling around these rolls. It is understood that these friction clutches may be adjusted in any well known or approved manner to provide the proper forwarding force of the belts on the streams.

The streams of aligned signatures are forwarded between belts 14 and 16 from rolls 7 and 8 between pulleys 17, 18 in a vertically downward direction against platform 15 and the signatures are maintained in vertical stacks by movable end plates 21 on said horizontally disposed packer box platform 15. Pulley 18 is rotatably and adjustably mounted in hangers 71 in the lower ends of bell cranks 50 pivoted at 51 the upper ends 52 of -said bell cranks being biased by spring rods 53 to urge 18 toward pulley 17 for desired control of the streams to a point above and at a distance just greater than the length of a signature from the movable platform 15.

The said platform 15 is adapted for high-speed orbital motion at its signature receiving end and, simultaneously, a reciprocating motion at its other end. The means for imparting the desired motions to the box include an eccentric shaft 19 rotated by a belt 37 from the pulley 38 of motor 39, said shaft 19 being pivotally connected with the packer box platform .15. The latter is suspended on ball bearings mounted on eccentric lands formed on said shaft, said eccentric shaft 19 which, is indicated in FIG. 1, rotates in a clockwise direct-ion to give a downward orbital motion to the signature receiving end of the packer box platform. The other, or outer, end of said platform 15 is mounted on swingable levers 20, same being pivoted at 40 and pinned to the box at 41 whereby the clockwise orbital mo- 4 tion of one end of the platform results in a substantially reciprocating motion at the other end thereof. Thus the rapid vibratory action of the platform in a downward d1- rection at the point of signature entry thereon results in a bottom jogging of the signatures and the temporary suspension of same due to the rapid action of the platform jumps same outwardly toward the reciprocating end of the box from which the signatures are normally removed. This reciprocating motion at the removal area facilities that operation by causing the signatures to move outwardly against and with the plates 21 which yieldingly contact and support the stacks. The plates are yieldably held against the piles of signatures by means of torque sprmgs 22 and cables 23 connecting the said springs and plates, said plates 21 being slidably mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to platform 15 on parallel rods 56 as shown in FIG. 4.

In the event that the signatures are partially removed sidewise from the packer box Lplatform 15, plate 21 Will contact ythe remaining pile before the partial removal is accomplished, thus holding the remaining signatures in an upright position by bearing against the outermost of same.

A pneumatically actuated gate 54 is provided for the removal of signature-s from the folder belt delivery 14 during makeready time of the press. However, while the press is running on production, this gate 54 is normally in a retracted position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 in order that the streams of signatures may be forwarded to the stacker platform for removal therefrom. To protect the belt system from damage in case of jam-ups, the longitudinal gap between rolls 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 `serves as a gauge. The rolls 5 and 6 and 7 and 8 are Set with -a predetermined gap 'therebetween and if this limited gap is caused to exceed its predetermined limit due to misplaced signatures or other disturbance to either normal stream, the gate 54 will be caused to intercept said stream by means of the normally closed limit switches 24 actuated when said gaps are enlarged. Said switches 24 are connected with air cylinder 25 by any well known or approved means (not shown) to actuate the cylinder and raise gate 54 by throwing the levers 42 connected thereto to cause gate 54 to rise and intercept the streams. Simultaneously, the then open limit switch 26 will stop motor 10, which drives chain 11, and also stop stacker motor 39 driving belt 37 and eccentric shaft 19 driven by pulley 70.

During removal of the jammed signatures or other cause of stoppage, the production speed of the press is normally maintained and the signatures removed from the belts 14 on their interception by vgate 54.

Desired stacker operation is resumed 'with the restarting of motors 10 and 39 and the retraction of gate 54 to the position shown in FIG. 1.

It will be noted that pulleys 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 72 guide or support belts 14 in the usual manner, and that the elements are supported in the side frames designated 62 and 63.

Since it is evident that changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described except as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A stacker for flexible sheets or signatures comprismg a horizontally disposed movable packer box platform, endless conveyors for transporting, jogging and controlling streams of overlapped sheets or signatures to a point above said platform for vertical disposition thereon, means for squeezing the air from said streams during sa1d transportation, means for orbitally agitating said platform from one end thereof, swingable supports for the other end of said platform whereby the platform moves vertically and horizontally with respect to the sheets 0r signatures thereon to form stacks thereof and means for resiliently supporting the sheets or signatures vertically disposed on the platform and urging same toward their immediate streams.

2. A structure according to claim 1 in which the means for squeezing the air from said stream-s comprises opposed grooved rollers carrying said endless conveyors for contacting opposite sides of said streams.

3. The combination according to claim 1 in which the means for squeezing the air from said Streams is so cOnstructed and arranged that each stream is subjected to a yielding pressure across its width.

4. The combination according to claim 1 including means for automatically stopping the means for transporting streams to 'said platform and the means for agitating the latter, other means for interrupting each stream prior to jogging same, said automatic stopping means and said stream interrupting means being actuated by a change in stream thickness at a predetermined point between said endless conveyors.

5. The combination according to claim 1 in which means are provided for subjecting more than one stream of different thicknesses to predetermined different pressures on each stream across the entire width thereof.

6. A stacker for iiexible sheets or signatures comprising a movable horizontally disposed packer box platform, means for transporting, jogging and controlling sheets or signatures in overlapped relation to subsequent vertical relationship on the platform, means for releasably maintaining said sheets or signatures in said vertical relationship thereon, said advancing means comprising a plurality of driven belts, opposed grooved rolls for receiving each set of belts thereon and overlapped sheets or signatures therebetween and pressuring same across their Width, means for driving the outer belts to forward the outer sheets or signatures in conformity with the average speed of the inner sheets or signatures, means for imparting orbital motion to the rear of the platform in a clockwise downward direction and reciprocating motion to the other end of said platform, means resiliently biasing a grooved roll toward its opposed roll, and other means actuated by the motion of a grooved roll away from its opposed roll for automatically stopping the means for moving the platform and interrupting the advance of sheets or signatures to and between the grooved rolls prior to jogging same.

'7. The combination according to claim 6 in which the means for automatically stopping the means for moving the platform and interrupting the advance of sheets or signatures include a limit switch operable by the motion of said resiliently biased grooved roll, an air cylinder actuated from said limit switch, a gate operated by said air cylinder to interrupt the sheets or signatures at a predetermined point and a second limit switch for stopping said platform movement and sheet or signature advance prior to jogging same.

8. The combination according to claim 1 in which the means for resiliently supporting the sheets or signatures vertically disposed on the platform comprises a member engaging the outermost sheets or signatures across Aa section of their width less than the entire width thereof.

9. A method of collecting and stacking flexible Sheets or signatures disposed on a conveyor and moved in overlapped condition in a stream and into a stacked relationship comprising turning the overlapped Streams of signatures with the lower signatures leading through an arcuate path of approximately 270 and moving said stream vertically downward, the leading signature in the stream contacting a movable horizontal packer box platform before succeeding signatures, each succeeding signature sliding down behind its predecessor, and subjecting the forming stack to rapid vertical and horizontal displacement by withdrawing and restoring vertical contact by the platform with one end of the stack bottom and to substantial reciprocation at the other end of the stack whereby the resultant movement of the stack is horizontal and in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the stack.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,391,346 4/1919 Williams 271-87 2,853,298 9/1958 Faeber 271-89 FOREIGN PATENTS 589,639 3/1959 Italy.

EDWARD A. SRGKA, Primary Examiner. 

